My first impression of Cusco, Peru was the vibrancy of color underneath partly cloudy skies. Coca tea leaves were being handed out in the airport and a man holding a big, white sign with my name scrawled across it in black letters followed closely behind. […]
One of the lesser-known parts and certainly one of the least talked about parts of solo traveling is loneliness. Yes, it’s life-changing, soul-smacking, spirit enhancing, thought-provoking wonder, but with it also comes a sense of despair. Especially if said solo traveling was born out of […]
Reiki, by definition, is a spiritual healing technique by which a therapist channels energy into a patient by means of touch. This activates the natural healing processes of the patient’s body. The intention is to restore emotional and physical wellbeing, spiritual healing. Some might argue […]
My Lyft driver was surprised by my lack of baggage en route to Los Angeles International Airport. I had my thirty-five liter, lightweight, Coreal hiking backpack, and my purse. That’s it. That’s all I needed the entire nine-day trip to a South American country. The […]
It’s easy becoming downtrodden with all the news in the world. It’s understandable to become immobilized with fear. Fear of violence, fear of being detained in a foreign land, and all-around fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time are all valid […]
Their knowing looks caught my eye a couple of times as I consumed mediocre, overpriced seafood. I washed it down with agua con gas, which is what they call sparkling water in South America. Their faces spoke volumes of pity amidst the dim ambience and […]
“I feel like I have changed in the last week, like honest to goodness changed. I recognize that getting ill on my first solo trip of a lifetime was the Universe’s way of demonstrating to me what I’m capable of, my strength in so many […]
The fog seemed to grow denser the higher the bus climbed. I wondered if my flu-ridden body could wait it out for that iconic view of Machu Picchu bathed in sunlight. Upon arrival at the entrance, I realized that in all of the months of […]
I was given what I deemed the noisiest room in the entire hostel. I was only staying one night in Machu Picchu Pueblo but I was not well and rest was necessary. All I heard all night were children laughing, yelling, and playing some game […]
“La borracha (drunk woman)!” Greg jokingly shouted after my locally brewed beer crashed to the floor of the Peru Rail train. The train conductor opened his door adjacent to our front-row seats to see what the commotion was. He chuckled at Greg’s false accusations. The […]
